LaVar Ball did not want to play a heel character on the show and they came up with the MizTV angle even though he was told he was going to be booed no matter what. Prior to the show, I'm told he was challenging to work with and very demanding.

TNA is now officially Global Force Wrestling, which means Jeff Jarrett finally has a TV deal for the GFW brand. I don't think it's going to propel them into being legitimate competitors to WWE in terms of ratings and revenue, but it does leave behind some rather cheesy branding (at least, Total Nonstop Action always sounded a bit silly to me), and presents an opportunity to re-boot.

It was awesome, and it was the perfect match to cap off the all-women main events from WWE last week. I'm also stoked that Nikki Cross was given her own variation of the Sanity theme, seems like they're really going forward with her after Asuka goes up to the main roster.

It was awesome, and it was the perfect match to cap off the all-women main events from WWE last week. I'm also stoked that Nikki Cross was given her own variation of the Sanity theme, seems like they're really going forward with her after Asuka goes up to the main roster.

It's weird they've kept the belt on her for so long. I've feel like they have a number of women that could be the champ at this point: Moon, Cross, Royce, Billie Kay

So when Angle first signed, we had all hoped for him to manage AA for a new Team Angle. I guess we kinda got that lol

Interesting they've already given up relatively quickly on two NXT tag teams now. It goes to show (along with nakamura) that they really don't know how to use and write for these guys. Also, different type of audience on the main roster might not get it

NAKAMURA WINS! DROPPED CENA ON HIS HEAD WITH THAT REVERSE-EXPLODER SUPLEX AND HIT THE KINSHASA(you guys should see it, it's painful to watch. Apparently, Nakamura apologized after the call was made, and Cena reportedly responded "Don't be sorry.").

It was also an episode with great TV matches. Gable showing off that he can hang when went against Rusev.

It got spoiled for me but I watched it anyways. Still very surprising that they made this call. I could see Shin going over but feuding with Jinder before Corbin cashes in

It seemed like he thought it was a regular suplex so he tucked his head. You could see Shin immediately concerned after the move and looking to see if he's ok. You can see him tell him I'm sorry after the match and Cena telling him don't be sorry along with some other stuff before raising his hand.

Lean wrote:Man, Takeover was solid top to bottom. I'd usually rank the main event the lowest but it did tell a good story.

I'm torn between the Women's Title match and Itami-Black match as my match of the night.

Yeah some pretty good matches. I was pleasantly surprised by the Almas-Gargano match. a very hard-hitting match.Glad to see Eric Young get his due. Nikki Cross is awesome. I hope we get to see her wrestle more.Sucks that Itami was about to be pushed and then he got dumped on his neck by some shitty newb and now that he's back there's all these new guys so he'll be stuck in a glorified jobber role.Was hoping Ember would finally dethrone Asuka. At this point, not sure if she'll even drop the title before moving on.

Not sure about these new ROH guys. I don't watch ROH so I have no idea who they are. So far, i'm pretty neutral towards Roderick Strong

At the start of the NXT Women's Title match, I told my brother that they should've put the Last Woman Standing match here between Asuka and Nikki Cross but holy crap that Asuka-Ember match was fantastic. Not Bayley-Sasha level of fantastic, but it was very, very good.

Might catch up on Summerslam tonight. Heard that the tag matches, and the fatal-four-way main event were good.

I've heard the match itself was good, but Lesnar retaining the title...I mean, it defeats the purpose of having a brand split and two world title belts when one of them is hardly on TV and the champion isn't around to be a consistent draw.

I thoroughly enjoyed Summerslam's main event. And both Tag Team Title matches were awesome as well. Shame they had to put the Big Show/Big Cass match and that awful Orton/Rusev match on the main card and not the Smackdown Tag Team title match.

Meanwhile, Corbin losing to Cena may have been because of the recent backstage heat he's getting, along with the Money in the Bank cash-in fail.

Double-meanwhile, Asuka reportedly injured her collarbone at Takeover. This could either be true or a work, so that she can go up the main roster undefeated.

Awesome fourth wall busting segment for Cena and Reigns, though Cena really outclassed Reigns on the mic. They really have to officially turn Reigns heel at this point, which means booking him and presenting him as the villain in the angle, not just saying "Oh yeah, he's getting booed, he's already a heel". No he's not; not if the booking still treats him like a face.

Rest in peace, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. The Brain was one of the most entertaining managers and commentators in the history of the business. Today's heel commentators could stand to take several pages out of his book. Instead of just trashing and burying the faces, his remarks drew sympathy for them, and were witty.

Neville (c) def. Enzo Amore -- I can't imagine Enzo being the guy to take the strap off of Neville (sans the day he lost it for a month or two ago to Tazawa).

Bray Wyatt def. Finn Balor -- This is a silly prediction because Bray just doesn't win on PPV, and doesn't win feuds, ever. However, he won at SummerSlam, and I don't know why they're even having another PPV match, so I figure they give this one to Bray.

Jason Jordan def. The Miz (c) -- One of the matches I'm really looking forward to, as I'm convinced that Jordan is going to heel turn and reveal that he's just been using Kurt Angle and manipulating him to get matches he wants, and that he's not really his son; because really that's the only way this entire angle ends and can save a semblance of face.

Ambrose & Rollins (c) def. The Bar -- I think Ambrose & Rollins need this tag run to go a little longer, for both their characters' sake.

Alexa Bliss (c) def. a bunch of other Women -- Alexa Bliss >>>>>. Somewhat related, Bayley's character is so stale.

John Cena def. Roman Reigns -- This is the way this needs to go down. I don't think Roman needs to go over here.

Braun Strowman def. Brock Lesnar (c) -- If there is a God and He loves me, this is how it will go down; but really I think it is unlikely. Vince does love his big guys, though, and Braun is the most entertaining one I've seen in a long, long time. Can't get enough BRAAUUUUNNNNNNNN.

I'm all for a Braun push. The thing is, it seems unlikely that Lesnar will drop the title at B-level event, even though doing so would be unpredictable and resolve the situation where the already worthless Universal title is hardly on TV, making the concept of having two world champions even more useless. I can't shake the feeling Lesnar will hold the belt right through to Wrestlemania, sadly.

The Tag Title and Women's Title matches were good. I thoughts Cena-Reigns had potential but that finish is just shit. Cena hit the two-consecutive AA's he hit Styles with back at the Royal Rumble and beat him for the title, but Reigns kicked out of that then stalled a bit. Popped up and hit a Superman punch, a spear and the victory. I MEAN, C'MON.

I understand that Vince is really high on Reigns, and this could be a torch-passing storyline but they could have had Cena win this one and act as the snotty vet then walk away to shoot a movie and say that he'll be back for Reigns if he's actually ready because right now he's not. Then have Reigns win over him at Wrestlemania. Instead, we got REIGNSWINLOL

Brock-Braun also had potential, but that finish is also garbage. Joe had the same showing at Great Balls of Fire but fall with ONE F-5. They could have given both Joe and Strowman more credibility by kicking out of one F-5 and have Brock needing to hit another one to beat them.

I wonder how much Lesnar really moves the needle in terms of ratings and revenue. His act is beyond stale, now. There's no intrigue because he (well, mostly Heyman) says he's going to win, and then he does just that, each and every time. It's basically the same match every time, then he makes a limited amount of appearances until his next match, at which point it all goes down the same way once again. The moment they had him break The Streak, they booked themselves into a corner and made one of their biggest draws boring as a result.

Braun's one of the best things going right now, having greatly improved across the board, and being a credible enough guy to take down Lesnar. If they keep having him blow title shots without dirty finishes, though, he's basically going to turn into Ryback.

I like the idea of Cena going over Reigns the first time, and making him earn the passing of the torch win at a big event, most likely Wrestlemania. For all the bad booking decisions they've made with Cena over the years, Reigns is worse, if only because they obviously didn't learn from their mistakes with Cena and the audience is really against it this time around. There would've been more intrigue if Reigns had lost, leading to a story where he ultimately redeems himself after working to get to Cena's level, so to speak. As you said, Lean, it's gone from CENAWINSLOL to REIGNSWINSLOL.

I hate it when they propel somebody to be the next main guy, Cena earned my respect when he started putting up great singles matches the past couple of years (still hate that gimmick though) but Reigns just won't do it for me. When he was with the Shield, Reigns was okay because his limitations are being shadowed pretty well by Ambrose and Rollins. They way he's booked now is just too much. They could at least turn him heel to have him go along with the crowd reactions.

Meanwhile, seems like Enzo's shit-eating ain't done yet. TRIPLE EDIT: It may also look like a double-turn for Enzo and Neville.